Patterico's Pontifications

7/27/2014

Propaganda War: Skewed Coverage Of Israel

Filed under: General — Dana @ 11:59 am



[guest post by Dana]

While the world watches an ugly explosion of violent and profane anti-semitism in Europe as protesters reject Israel’s right to exist defend itself, Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer took CNN to task for what the news agency conveniently left out of their story covering a recent bombing that killed 16 Palestinians:

Earlier today, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will continue with its mission to defend itself and destroy the “terror tunnels” on the Gaza Strip:

“Israel is not obliged and is not going to let a terrorist organization determine when it’s convenient for them to fire at our cities, at our people, and when it’s not,” Netanyahu said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “We’ll take the necessary action to protect our people including, by the way, continuing to dismantle tunnels. That’s our policy.”

“We tell the civilians ‘Leave.’ Hamas tells them to stay. It wants to pile up these civilian casualties,” Netanyahu said. “Therefore it should be blamed and not Israel. That’s a simple truth and moral clarity that should not be lost.”

Clearly, both sides understand that the more civilian casualties shown on news reports across the world – without essential context and relevant information – the more Hamas wins the propaganda war. And one might even be tempted to think the West is helping in this, given that our own president instructed Israel to: Put yourself in their shoes – look at the world through their eyes, and further, our secretary of state believes Israel needs to: try to understand what life looks like from the Palestinian point of view. Why? Because Israel would then be sympathetic and understanding of their neighbors’ efforts to wipe them off the face of the earth?

What next? A legitimizing of Hamas by the West?

–Dana

UPDATE: It would appear that while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has plans to introduce “standalone” legislation to provide funding for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system, the Democrats, never ones to let a crisis opportunity go to waste, want to tie the bill to illegal immigration:

The Kentucky Republican’s bill would meet a supplemental funding request from the Pentagon for $225 million for the program. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., included the funding in her much broader supplemental that would primarily address the crisis of unaccompanied migrant children entering the United States from Central America — but Republicans are balking at that $3.6 billion bill.

“Republicans are united in support of our ally Israel. We have legislation that would allow Congress to meet the Secretary’s request. And we hope our friends on the other side will join us in coming to a sensible, bipartisan solution that can be passed quickly,” McConnell said in a floor speech. “As most senators know, the Iron Dome missile defense system has played a critical role in defending Israel’s population from the rocket attacks launched by Hamas from within the Gaza Strip.

45 Responses to “Propaganda War: Skewed Coverage Of Israel”

  1. The media’s claimed excuse is that they hold Israel to a higher standard than they do Hamas and the other dogsh*t terror groups because Israel is a fully formed/realized democracy. They’ll show “Palestinian” children crying and bandaged in makeshift hospitals and it doesn’t seem to register with the media that it’s Hamas policy to place missile launchers and other armaments in residential areas, to launch barrages of missiles from these same residential areas or that this violates international law.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  2. Not sure if it was AP or Feuters tweet, paraphrasing …

    Israel ends cease fire by attacking Gaza after Hamas launches multiple rockets

    JD (9ac469)

  3. Palestinians make me sick how depraved they are

    just a thoroughly ruined people

    they need a time out in a big big big way

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  4. Looking at Mali, the Libya meltdown, Iraq, Afghanistan, the “peace process” and the shambles that are left of everything liberal Dems apply their fecal touch to, American voters need to remember and apply these lessons learned in November and every election henceforth.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  5. moral clarity has nothing to do with nothing Mr. Netanyahu

    the thing is if you stop fumigating before all the vermins are gone they’ll just come back and be even more resistant than before

    and then you’ll be in a pickle!

    I don’t care what some sleazy United Nations flunky like bankeee poop poop coffee non non says

    it’s called natural selection I learned about it in high school in Texas

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  6. A legitimizing of Hamas by Obama.

    FIFY

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  7. What all these people refuse to face is that the Islamists and “Palestinians” were Hitler’s allies in WW2, and when he was defeated they just kept on fighting to finish the job he started. That is what the war against Israel has been about from the beginning. Wipe out the Jews, the descendants of apes and monkeys, the ones who rejected the Prophet, once and for all. And after the Saturday people, it will be the turn of the Sunday people.

    And since war cannot be fought without collateral damage to civilians, saying that Israel may not defend itself in a way that harms civilians is exactly the same as saying it may not defend itself at all. If you’re a Quaker or Mennonite, who would willingly let yourself and your wife and children be massacred rather than raise a hand to another person, then I suppose you have the right to say that. But if you would go to war to defend your own, if you would willingly kill to protect your home and family, if you claim there is such a thing as a just war, and yet you demand that Israel refrain from what you would do, then you’re an anti-semite. There’s just no other word for it.

    Milhouse (fcf540)

  8. moral clarity has nothing to do with nothing Mr. Netanyahu

    Unfortunately Netanyahu’s history gives no cause for optimism. He talks a good game, but when push comes to shove he caves. He showed his true mettle (or lack of it) when he gave Hevron away to the enemy, knowing full well that they would put snipers on the hills.

    Milhouse (fcf540)

  9. Not to mention the insane Shalit deal, freeing over 1000 terrorists, knowing that they would kill again.

    Milhouse (fcf540)

  10. Greetings:

    Ron Dermer deserves some kind of medal. If he were a boxer, they’d be saying that the media “didn’t lay a glove on him”.

    It’s heartening to see an ambassador with his reverse gear under adult control especially in light of the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Foggy Bottom crews.

    11B40 (844d04)

  11. Moon’s up in the sky
    it’s midnight up in Harlem
    all the stars are out

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  12. needles on the ground
    it’s midnight up in Harlem
    born to be her fool

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  13. the world is turning
    barack’s smart diplomacy
    dance this mess around

    theweek.com/speedreads/ind…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  14. Turkey is sending a new “flotilla” to Gaza.

    Sink ’em all, I say.

    Estragon (ada867)

  15. NATO is stupid anymore

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  16. “The media’s claimed excuse is that they hold Israel to a higher standard than they do Hamas and the other dogsh*t terror groups because Israel is a fully formed/realized democracy. “

    Colonel, that is true, but you will never ever hear the MSM say that. Because they refuse to accept that Israel has any superiority in any way over the Palestinians. It’s weird.

    Heck, I have seen academics defend genital mutilation as a “cultural practice” no different than circumcision.

    I’m with General Napier regarding “cultural practices.”

    “A story for which Napier is often noted involved Hindu priests complaining to him about the prohibition of Sati by British authorities. This was the custom of burning a widow alive on the funeral pyre of her husband. As first recounted by his brother William, he replied:

    “‘Be it so. This burning of widows is your custom; prepare the funeral pile. But my nation has also a custom. When men burn women alive we hang them, and confiscate all their property. My carpenters shall therefore erect gibbets on which to hang all concerned when the widow is consumed. Let us all act according to national customs'”

    From here:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_James_Napier

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  17. this post can’t be accurate: everyone knows the Jews control the media…

    Laup Nor (abd49e)

  18. Heck, I have seen academics defend genital mutilation as a “cultural practice” no different than circumcision.

    That’s in line with the students and professors at Brandeis University who earlier this year protested the selection of an Islamic woman, who has criticized the reactionary nature of Islam, to give the school’s commencement address.

    When such leftists made excuses for Communism during the years of the Iron Curtain, their rationalizations could at least be attributed to a cheap love for the supposed pro-proletarian ethos of ultra-liberalism, including in the former Soviet Union. But for the same crowd to now be tap dancing for Islam and Islamofascism? What’s that all about?!

    The quip that liberalism is a mental illness may not be a matter of sarcasm whatsoever or after all.

    Mark (2604a9)

  19. 7-8-9 Milhouse
    Roger that.
    God Bless the I.D.F.

    mg (31009b)

  20. I’ve updated the post.

    Dana (4dbf62)

  21. there’s no consensus in america’s whore congress about supporting our putative ally israel anymore

    there’s actually much more consensus about catering to these parasitic urchins what Tom Donohue is lusting after so obscenely

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  22. oh for the love of pete, tom

    keep it in your pants

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  23. The good news is people will have a better excuse than ‘washing their hair’ next Nov. 4.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/everyone-says-turnout-is-key-so-why-does-it-keep-going-down/2014/07/26/15354a4c-1439-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html

    gary gulrud (46ca75)

  24. ignorance is bliss, and i’m surrounded by happy people.

    redc1c4 (abd49e)

  25. Kerry not only legitimated Hamas but became their errand boy and alienated both Fatah and Egypt. Quite an achievement even by Kerry’s standards.
    http://www.timesofisrael.com/john-kerry-the-betrayal/

    kishnevi (a1b66c)

  26. Question for Mitch McConnell: Still think actual conservatives and Tea Party types are the ones that need to be fought with more fervor than Democrats?

    Blacque Jacques Shellacque (43cb76)

  27. I applaud Ambassador Derme for taking the time to respond for the benefit of the 23 people in the United States that actually watch CNN.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  28. All the Republicans need to do with Mikulski’s stupid add-on, or any other add-ons, is say: “The Democrats are holding Israel hostage. We want to help Israel but the Democrats want to leverage it for their own purposes.” And just leave it there. Let the Democrats explain to AIPAC and the AJC.

    nk (dbc370)

  29. Naftali Frankel was a dual U.S.-Israel citizen.

    Why we don’t have at least one warship over there, shooting down Hamas rockets, I’ll never know.

    Israel should not be in this alone.

    Steve57 (70f802)

  30. This is what the IDF has to deal with. I don’t see how they can deal with it except by demolishing every house within 500 m of the border.

    Milhouse (c63fe5)

  31. #19 Mark: When such leftists made excuses for Communism during the years of the Iron Curtain, their rationalizations could at least be attributed to a cheap love for the supposed pro-proletarian ethos of ultra-liberalism, including in the former Soviet Union. But for the same crowd to now be tap dancing for Islam and Islamofascism? What’s that all about?!

    Since the Islamofascists are hostile to the United States, leftists see them as a convenient ally.

    Joshua (26b22b)

  32. The moral condescension of that woman is just unbearable. I guess she is not familiar with all the reporting by CNN on Palestinian war propaganda. I myself saw one scene last night where two girls sitting down looking calm suddenly broke out into wailing just as the camera went by. Right.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT5gDjg1coc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OImcBKEIIs

    Yes, any casualties are tragic, but Hamas takes the blame for them.

    Patricia (5fc097)

  33. You want to know the latest news on that bonbing?

    Israel said said that indeed a shell fell where that school was — but there was nobody there at the time – they have proof from a drone video.

    So you know what that means?

    After the Israeli shell fell, Hamas agreed to an evacuation and then fired their own ordanance at the same spot, where now people were, with the idea that it would blamed on Israel!

    Yes, of course, they are that evil.

    Sammy Finkelman (a551ff)

  34. The tunnels were built with the help of North Korea, and they are probably like the ones North Korea periodically builds under the DMZ.

    Something I read made me realize:

    We know that historically when tunnels have been built, for subways and for other purposes, like in coal mines, there have been fatalities during construction. And Hamas could not take the greatest of care.

    There apparently were here too, when Hamas was building the tunnels and many of them were children, because their smaller bodies were useful.

    I read someone gave an estimate of 160 children killed building these tunnels.

    Sammy Finkelman (a551ff)

  35. The head of Hamas was interviewed by CBS’ Charlie Rose.

    Now the leader of Hamas has no compunction about lying but he does have problems with contradictiong himself (in a too public way)

    He claimed he would live with Jews, had to say no to a Jewish state, and when asked about war said let them be independent etc and then the Palestinians will decide what to do. (close paraphrase)

    Sammy Finkelman (a551ff)

  36. Sammy, see #32

    Milhouse (c63fe5)

  37. 32, 37, 39.

    I see the numbers came from Hamas officials in 2012.

    Why did they admit it?

    Sammy Finkelman (a551ff)

  38. Note: I think in 2012, they were talking about the tunnels going to Egypt, not any tunnels going to Israel, which were fewer, smaller in diameter, and mostly secret. Some of the tunnels to and from Egypt were so bog cars were taken through them.

    Hamas must have admitted the deaths because they wanted the border with Egypr to be open and the trade to be fully legal (and then the tunnels could be used only for weapons like rockets)

    At that time Morsi was in control, and the Moslem Brotherhood slowly acquiring some more control.

    Sammy Finkelman (a551ff)

  39. Wondering if Reince Priebus fainted watching somebody give a factual, forceful retort to biased media coverage.

    L.N. Smithee (4e7e54)

  40. This is the original source article about the children killed building the tunnels.

    The article is anti-Israel, like as if Israel had no reason for the “siege.”

    And it is talking about the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.

    http://www.palestine-studies.org/journals.aspx?id=11424&jid=1&href=fulltext

    Gaza’s Tunnel Phenomenon: The Unintended Dynamics of Israel’s Siege

    By Nicolas Pelham

    “The ground that Israel leveled in 2004 to create a barren corridor separating Gaza from Egypt is today abuzz with activity on and under the surface.”

    ……. Hamas’s lack of transparency about its use of its tunnel earnings compounds suspicions. While Hamas officials say local revenues comprise half the government’s $750 million annual budget for 2011, local businessmen calculate the earnings to be considerably higher, raising questions about where the funds go and why there are repeated shortfalls in monthly civil-service salary payments. Calls for accountability have mounted as the Haniyeh government has increased the tax burden. (National Economy Minister ?Ala’ Rif?ati, who upon taking office called for Gaza’s withdrawal from the Paris Protocol to spare the population Israeli-level tariffs, four months later declared his intention to raise tariffs in line with Paris Protocol rates.)

    A similarly cavalier approach to child labor and tunnel fatalities damaged the movement’s standing with human-rights groups, despite government assurances dating back to 2008 that it was considering curbs. During a police patrol that the author was permitted to accompany in December 2011, nothing was done to impede the use of children in the tunnels, where, much as in Victorian coal mines, they are prized for their nimble bodies. At least 160 children have been killed in the tunnels, according to Hamas officials. Safety controls on imports appear similarly lax, although the TAC insists that a sixteen-man contingent carries out sporadic spot-checks.

    All told, the tunnels have been a mixed bag for Hamas. While its detractors praise—albeit begrudgingly—its success in reducing the impact of Israel’s stranglehold, perceptions of corruption inside the organization have intensified. During the renewed fuel shortages of spring 2012, there were widespread allegations that Hamas leaders received uninterrupted electricity and that gasoline stations continued to operate for the exclusive use of Hamas members. True or not, they fed a growing mood of recrimination that Hamas had profited from the siege.

    Sammy Finkelman (6aaed6)

  41. Those may have been the only tunnels people knew about at the time, but these unnamed Hamas officials owuld have known about all the tunnels.

    Milhouse (c63fe5)

  42. It sounds like the Hamas officials were lowballing the number of children killed building the tunnels.

    It might be the international officials knew something because 4/5 of Gaza’s population is listed as refugees and getting things.

    Sammy Finkelman (702d53)


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